On their debut CD, Manchester quartet The Courteeners came off sounding like The Smiths, or a more polished Libertines. For their sophomore CD, they go sublime "With or without you"-style U2 (as well as ditch their accents) so if you're expecting upbeat racuous songs like "If it wasn't for me" off their debut, you may be disappointed. Songs like "The opener", "Take over the world", and "Good times are calling" are softly pulsing rockers with tight harmonies.
The theatrical "Cross my heart & hope to fly" takes a few liberties, chiming sounds against a wall of Oooh ooh ohs, while the deliriously catchy single "You overdid it, doll" is Disco-tinged Rock a la Franz Ferdinand, "Take me out" especially, which is great seeing as Franz Ferdinand themselves have been hard pressed to produce anything like that ever since. Also Disco-tinged is the buzzing upbeat "Scratch your name upon my lips".
"Sycophant" is bouncy Smiths-esque Pop, while "Will it be this way forever" is a dark-sounding jangly Rocker.
For ballads, there's "Lullaby" with bubbling synths and vulnerable lyrics confessing "I'm a fool who thinks he's strong as Cassius Clay", the lovely sweeping "Cameo brooch", and for fans of the acoustic Pete Doherty-style "Yesterday, today & possibly tomorrow" off their debut, there's "The rest of the world has gone home" (with Liam Fray turning in similar tender throaty vocals), and finally the piano ballad "Last of the ladies".
The CD does take its time to work its charm but once it does, it soars!
Second record from The Courteeners. LOVED the first record. And this second one did not disappoint at all. There's a darker feel to the record and also, in my opinion, a better quality in production. Love both records the same. This is what I call good music. A must get.
